HRPP PRESS STATEMENT : On Friday 10 September 2021, civil contempt proceedings were received from FAST Party and Fiame Naomi alleging civil contempt of the Court, scandalizing and undermining the Court’s authority.
Proceedings have been filed seeking to add Lauofo Pierre Meredith Deputy Leader of HRPP, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi Secretary of the HRPP, Maiava Visekota Peteru, Solicitor and Taulealeausumai Sioeli Alofaifo, a broadcaster to the civil contempt case already filed against Hon. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Toleafoa Leaupepe Faafisi, Savalenoa Mareva Betham Annandale and Tiatia Graeme Tualaulelei.
The matter will be called on Monday 13 September for procedural matters to be dealt with and for time to be given to file our statements of defense.
A date for the hearing will be set when all Defendants have had the opportunity to file Statements of Defense.
According to the HRPP, each and every allegation will be strongly and strenuously defended.The allegations arise out of LIVE political broadcasts through HRPP media, TV interviews, peaceful protest marches and speeches made by members of the HRPP.
“We will be considering several grounds of defense including fair comment, freedom of speech and expression under the Constitution of Samoa and that there is no real risk of serious prejudice to the administration of justice.
Remember that in 59 years of independence no Government of Samoa has never tried to silence it’s critics in such a manner “ said HRPP Secretary Lealailepule Rimoni.
“FAST needs to meet the high evidentiary burden of proving their allegations beyond reasonable doubt. It appears that FAST has obviously gone to great lengths and watched many hours of our live broadcasts to find evidence for these allegations”.
Upon receiving the news of the allegations Maiava Visekota stated: “In my humble opinion, this appears to be a a thinly veiled attempt to silence any opposition. Our daily broadcasts aim at informing the public about current developments in Samoa, about Court decisions, the Constitution and the bill of rights therein”
As the well known Lord Denning in the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Blackburn 1968 case espoused:“It is the right of every man…to make fair comment, even outspoken comment on matters of public interest…”